Resetting circuit for trigger devices



Oct. 6, 1936. 1.. K. SWART 2,056,235

RESETTING CIRCUIT FOR TRIGGER DEVICES Filed May 22, 1935 /Nl ENTOR L. K. SWART ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESETTING CIRCUIT FOR TRIGGER EVICES Application May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,688

9 Claims. (Cl. 179-16) This invention relates to resetting circuits for trigger devices and more particularly to such circuits including a multi-electrode gaseous discharge device and an output circuit associated with two of the electrodes of the device and including a plurality of relays, one of which is adapted to control a load circuit in accordance with potential impulses in the input circuit of the device.

10 In systems such as shown in my Patent 1,977,256 granted October 16, 1934 suitable for voltage recording and the like, the output circuit of the gaseous discharge device may include a vibratingrelay and an operating relay connected in series with each other and wfith the source for applying a positive potential to t e output electrode or anode of the device, and a condenser in circuit with the operating relay. One of the principal functions of the condenser is to suppress the voltage induced in the operating relay when the vibrating relay releases, so that this induced voltage will not be of sufflcienhrnagnitude, together with the potential of the source, to impress upon the output electrode or anode of the discharge device a potential great enough to reionize the device after it has been deionized as a result of operation of the vibrating relay. When the vibrating relay releases, the condenser becomes charged, the charging current flowing through a circuit including the winding of the operating relay, and when fully charged acts as an open circuit. The charging current flowing through the winding of the operating relay may serve to hold the contact of the operating relay closed for an appreciable period which may be sufllciently long to prevent release of the operating relay before another impulse is impressed upon the input electrode of the discharge device, so that the circuit controlled by the operating relay will not be energized in ac- 'cordance with the input impulses.

One object of this invention is to insure quick release of the operating relay so that impulses in the input circuit of the gaseous discharge device will result in corresponding impulses in the load circuit controlled by the operating relay.

In accordance with one feature of this invention, an operating relay having two windings is used, only one of the windings being in series with the winding of the vibrating relay. The second winding of the operating relay may be shunted across the source for applying'a positive potential I to the output electrode of the gaseous discharge device through a circuit independent'of the first winding of the operating relay.

In a specific circuit illustrative of one embodiment of this invention, the operating relay may be of the polar type and have two windings wound in the same direction. One of the windings forms a part of a series circuit between the cathode and output electrode of the gaseous discharge device 5 and including the source for applying a positive potential to the output electrode, the winding of the operating relay, and two resistances of widely different values between the winding of the vibrating relay and the one winding of the operating 10 relay. The vibrating relay is provided with two contacts, one of which is closed when the relay is not energized, and the other of which is adapted to be closed when the relay is energized. The contacts are shunted by a condenser in series with 15 the smaller of the two resistances. The second winding of the operating relay is connected at one end to the end of the other winding connected to the source, and at the other end to the contact of the vibrating relay which is closed when the o vibrating relay is deenergized.

In this circuit when the vibrating relay releases upon deionization of the gaseous discharge device, the charging current for the condenser may flow in two paths, one of which includes the first 25 winding of the operating relay and the larger of the two resistances, and the other of which includes the second winding of the operating relay and the smaller of the two resistances. The portion of the charging current flowing through the 30 latter circuit will be large in comparison with the portion flowing in the former =circuit so that it will overcome the tendency of the latter portion to hold the operating relay operated and result in quick release of this relay. Inasmuch 35 as the circuit in which the major portion of the charging current for the condenser flows is of relatively low resistance and inductance, the period of time required for the condenser to become fully charged will be relatively short, there- 40 by further increasing the speed at which the operating relay releases.

The invention and the features thereof will be understood more clearly and fully from the following detailed description with reference to 5 the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows one resetting circuit, illustrative of this invention, for a three-electrode gaseous discharge device of the trigger type;

Fig. 2 shows another resetting circuit in acw cordance-with this invention wherein the vibrating and operating relays operate simultaneously upon the ionization of the trigger device;

Fig. 3 shows still another resetting circuit illustrative of this invention wherein the two wind- 5 ings of the operating relay are electrically separate; and

Fig. 4 illustrates another resetting circuit in accordance with this invention wherein one winding the operating relay is connected between the armature of the vibrating relay and the negative terminal of the source in the anode or output circuit of the discharge device and the chargthe potential between the cold electrodes H and i2 may be utilized to control the initiation of a discharge between one of the cold electrodes, for example, the electrode i2, and the output electrode or anode l3. The cold electrodes ii and I2 may be connected to an input circuit by conductors i4 and i5 respectively, and a suitable source, not shown, may be included in the input circuit for applying a suitable biasing potential to the control electrode H. An output circuit is connected between the cathode I2 and the anode i9 and includes a suitable source, such as a battery IQ. for applying a positive potential to the anode I3,

' an operating relay, which may be of the polar type and include two windings i8 and I9 wound in the same direction and each connected at. one end to the positive terminal of the source i8 and also connected non-inductively to a pair of resistances 20 and 2|, and a vibrating relay 22.

For reasons to be set forth hereinafter the resistance 20 preferably is much larger than the resistance 2|. For example, it may be of the order of 1000 ohms and the resistance 2|, may be of the order of 200 ohms. The operating relay has an armature 23 and a contact 24 which are connected to a load circuit by conductors 25 and 26 respectively. The vibrating relay has an armature 21 which is connected to the end of the winding 22 connected to the resistance 2 and has two contacts 28 and 29, the contact 28 being connected to the negative terminal of the source i6 and the contact 29 being connected to the other end of the winding IQ of the operating relay. A condenser 38 is shunted across the armature 21 and contact 28 of the vibrating relay in series with the resistance 2|, and serves to prevent arcing between the armature and the contacts and also to suppress the voltage induced in the winding iii of the operating relay when the vibrating relay releases, as described hereinafter.

When the device |0 is in'the deionized state, the armature 21 of the vibrating relay is against the contact 29 so that the windings i8 and i9 oi the operating relay are connected in series with the resistances 20 and 2| through a path including the windings i8 and i9, contact 29, and armature 21. The resistances 2| and 20 are connected in parallel with the source 5 through the condenser 30 and windings i8 and i9. One of the branches of the parallel circuit extends from the positive terminal of the source it, through the winding 58, resistance 20 and condenser 98 and thence to the negativeterminal of the source it; the other branch extends from the positive terminal of the source it through the winding 19, contact 29, armature 21, resistance 2i. and condenser 30 and thence to the negative terminal of the source it.

When a suitable potential, which may be an alternating or a periodic'direct potential, is applied between the control electrode H and cathode l2 to cause ionization in the device In and a discharge between the cathode l2 and the anode IS, a current flows in the circuit including the cathode i2, the source iii, the windings i8 and i9 in parallel, the resistances 20 and 2|, the winding 22,'and the anode l3. This current energizes the vibrating relay so that the armature 21 immediately leaves the contact 29 and moves toward the contact 28 with the result that the aforementioned current flows only through the winding l8 and the armature 23 engages the contact 24 to close the load circuit including the conductors 25 and 26. When the armature 21 reaches and engages the contact 28, the condenser 30 discharges through the relatively small resistance 2| and simultaneously an additional current flows through the winding i8 through the circuit including the source i8, winding l8, resistances 20 and 2|, armature 21, and contact 28. Also when the armature 21 engages the contact 28, a shortcircuiting connection is established between the cathode l2 and anode i3 so that the device l0 deionizes and as a result the winding 22 is deenergized and the armature 21 falls away from the contact 28. While the armature 21 is moving toward the contact 29, the condenser 30 is charged over a circuit including the source 6,

winding l8 and resistance 20. The charging current energizes the winding l8 and causes the armature 23 of the operating relay to be held against the contact 24. However, as soon as the armature 21 reaches the contact 29, the chargingcurrent flows through both windings of the relay and is divided in the two branch circuits, set forth hereinbefore, each including one of the resistances 20 and 2| and one of the windings i8 and I9. Inasmuch as the resistance 2| in series with the winding I9, through the contact 28, armature 21, condenser 30, and source I6, is less than the resistance 20 in series with the winding I8, through the condenser 30 and source 8, the greater portion of the charging current fiows through the winding |9 so that the armature 28 leaves the contact 24 and opens the load circuit.

It will be apparent that the portion of the condenser charging current fiowing' through the winding i9 may be adjusted at will by varying the value of the resistance 2| so that the period required for release of the operating relay may be varied. Inasmuch as the condenser is charged through a low resistance circuit and the windings t8 and i9 are connected non-inductively, the condenser is charged very rapidly so that the operating relay will release very quickly. It will be understood, of course, that if the armature 21 of the vibrating relay is vibrating at high speed, insufileient time will be given to allow the operating relay to release during such vibrations. However, as soon as the armature 21 comes to rest against the contact 29, the operating relay-will release very quickly to open the load circuit.

It will be noted that when the armature 21 is in engagement with the contact 28, a direct connection of very low resistance is established between the winding 22 and the negative terminal of the source it so that the potential upon the anode or output electrode i3 is quickly decreased and the device it), therefore, is quickly returned to its deionized state. In order to insure engagement between the armature 21 and the contact 28 for a sumcient period to allow the voltage between the cathode I2 and anode I8 to iall below the value necessary to sustain a cathode-anode discharge, a condenser 8I, which may be fixed I2); variable, may be shunted across the winding In another circuit illustrative of this invention, shown in Fig. 2, the vibrating relay may have but one contact 28, which normally is out of engagement with the armature 21, and the contact 28 and armature 21 may be shunted by a condenser 38 and a resistance 88 in series with the condenser 88. The two windings I8 and I8 of the operating relay are connected in series with the source I8, a resistance 84, and the winding 22 of the vibrating relay. The windirm I8 is shunted by the condenser 88 and resistance 88, through the source I8 and resistance 84. The mid-point of the two windings I8 and I8 of the operating relay is connected directly to the armature 21 of the vibrating relay.

When a potential sufllcient to cause ionization of the device I8 is impressed between the electrodes II and I2, 9. current will flow in the path including the cathode I2, source I8, resistance 84, windings I8 and I8 oi the operating relay, winding 22 of the vibrating relay and anode I8. The vibrating and operating relays, therefore, will operate simultaneously and the load circuit will be closed through the armature 28 and contact 24. Energization of the winding 22 causes the armature 21 to engage the contact 28 so that a shunt is placed across the cathode I2 and anode I3 through the windingI8, and the potential between the cathode and anode, therefore, is decreased so that the device I8 deionizes. When the armature 21 engages the contact 28, an additional current flows through the winding I8 through the path including the source I8, resistance 84, winding I9, armature 21 and contact 28, which tends to hold the operating relay operated. Simultaneously, however, due to the transformer action between the windings I8 and I8, a potential of considerable magnitude is induced in the winding I8 and this potential is of a polarity in opposition to that of the source I8, so that the potential upon the anode I8 is quickly reduced below the sustaining value and rapid deionization of the device I8 results.

When the device I8 delonizes, the winding 22 becomes deenergized and the armature 21 falls away from the contact 28 so that the circuit through the winding I8, source I8, contact 28 and armature 21 is interrupted. Also the condenser 88 is charged by a current flowing through the circuit including the condenser, source I8, resistance 84, winding I8,'and resistance 88 and this current tends to hold the operating relay operated until the condenser is charged. However, due to the inverse voltage induced in the winding I8 and the small counter-voltage induced in the winding I8, the condenser 88 may be made of relatively small capacity so that it will charge I8, resistance 84. Winding I8 is connected at oneend to the negative terminal of the source I8 and at the other end to the contact 28. A condenser 88 may be shunted across the winding I8 as shown.

When the device I8 ionizes in response to the impressment of a suitable potential between the electrodes I I and I2, a current flows in the circuit including the cathode I2, source I8, resistance I through the winding I8 in a circuit including source I8, resistance 84, winding I8, armature 21,

contact 28, and winding I8, and this current tends to hold the operating relay operated. As a result of deionization of the device I8, the winding 22 becomes deenergized so that the armature 21 leaves the contact 28. becomes charged, the charging current flowing through the circuit including the source I8, resistance 84, winding I8, resistance 88, and winding I8.

The winding I8, it will be seen, may be designed to have a low inductance so that the counter-electromotive force induced therein by the decay of current caused by deionization of the device I8 and by the armature 21 leaving the contact 28 is relatively small. Hence, the condenser 1 88 also may be relatively small so that it will charge rapidly and the operating relay will release quickly to open the load circuit at the contact 24. Any counter-electromotive force induced in the winding I8 when the armature 21 leaves the contact 28 will be quickly suppressed by the condenser 88.

In the circuit illustrated in Fig. 4, the winding II of the operating relay is connected in series with the winding 22 of the vibrating relay. The

winding I8 oi the operating relay is connected at one end to the contact 28 and at the other end to the negative terminal of the source I8, and is shunted directly by a condenser 88.

When the device I8 ionizes, the windings I8 and 22 are'energized by the current flowing in the path including the cathode I2, source I8, resistance 84, winding 22, winding I8, and anode I8, and as a result the armature 28 engages contact 24 to close the load circuit. Simultaneously, the armature 21 engages the contact 28 so that potential is withdrawn from the windings 22 and I8 and from the anode-cathode circuit of the device I8, that is between the cathode I2 and anode I8. Also, when the armature 21 engages the contact 28, current flows through the winding I8 in the path including the source I8, resistance 84, arms.-

The condenser 88 then ture 21, contact 28, and winding I8, which tends to hold the operating relay operated. Sunni-.-

taneously, the condenser 88 is charged by a cur.- rent flowing in the path from the source I8,

through the resistance 84, armature 21 and contact 28 and the rate of charge will be great inasmuch as aside from the condenser the circuit is purely resistive. The rate of charge may be varied by varying the resistance 84.

When the device I8 deionizes, the windings I8 and 22 become deenergized and the armature 21 moves away from the contact 28 so that the circuit through the winding I8 and source I8, above described, is opened and the current through the.

winding i8 decays. The current through the winding l9 will decay rapidly to a point below that necessary to hold the operating relay operated inasmuch as the condenser will become fully charged very rapidly by the current fiowing through the path including the source it, resistances 34 and 33, condenser 30, and con denser 36 and winding ill in shunt. Thus, quick release of the operating relay will be attained and the load circuit will be opened rapidly.

If the armature 21 is vibrating at relatively high speed, the operating relay will be held operated in the short intervals of time that the device IO is deionized, by the energy stored in the condenser 36. However, when the potential between the electrodes II and i2 is removed, the operating relay will release very quickly so that the load circuit will be opened before a potential again is applied between the electrodes ii and i2. For example, it has been found that if a 60 cycle potential is applied between the electrodes- II and i2 the operating relay will remain operated during the application of the potential but will release in about one-half cycle after the potential is removed.

Although specific illustrative circuits have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be understood also that although the invention has been illustrated with reference to circuits including cold cathode devices, it may be practiced also with circuits including devices of the hot cathode type or devices having more than three electrodes.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a trigger device having a cathode, an input electrode, and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to s id cathode and said input electrode, an on ut circuit coupled to said cathode and said output elec-,

trode, said output circuit including a vibrating relay, a source of potential and an operating relay having a pair of windings, one of which source.

2. In combination, a gaseous discharge device having a cathode, an input electrode, and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit connected between said cathode and said output electrode including a source 01' potential, a vibrating relay in series with said source, and an operating relay having a pair oi! windings one of which is in series with said vibrating relay, said vibrating relay having a contact adapted to be closed when said device ionizes whereby the other winding of said operating relay is shunted across said source, and a condenser in shunt with said contact.

3. In combination, a gaseous discharge device having a cathode, an input electrode, and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit coupled to said cathode and said output electrode and including a vibrating relay, a double wound polar relay, and a source of potential, said source, vibrating relay and one winding of said polar relay being in series between said cathode and said output electrode, said vibrating relay having a contact normally closed and adapted to be opened when said device ionizes, and a shunt circuit across the other winding of said polar relay including said contact, said source, and a condenser.

i. In combination, a trigger device having a cathode, an input electrode, and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said input electrode and said cathode, and an output circuit coupled to said cathode and said output electrode, and comprising a source for applying a positive potential to said output electrode. a vibrating relay in series with said source and having an armature connected to one end of the winding of said relay and a pair of contacts one of which is normally closed to said armature and the other of which is normally open and connected to said cathode, an operating relay having a pair of windings one of which is in series with said vibrating relay and said source and the other of which is connected at one end to said source and series with said vibrating relay, the resistance of greater magnitude being connected at one end to said first winding of said operating relay, and a condenser connected at one end to the negative terminal of said source and at the other end to the connected ends of said resistances.

5. In combination, a trigger device having a cathode, an input electrode and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit coupled to said cathode and said output electrode and comprising a source for applying a positive potential to said output electrode, a vibrating relay in series with said source and having an armature connected to the positive terminal of said source and a contact normally disengaged from said armature, and an operating relay having a pair of windings one of which is in series with said vibrating relay and the other of which is connected at one end to said contact and at the other end to the negative terminal of said source, and a condenser connected between said contact and said armature.

'6. The combination defined in claim 5 and including another condenser in shunt with said other winding of said operating relay.

7. In combination, a gaseous discharge device having a cathode, an input electrode and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit coupled to said cathode and said output electrode and including a source for applying a positive, potential to said output electrode, a vibrating relay in series with said source and output electrode and having an armature connected to the positive terminal of said source and a contact normally disengaged from said armature, and an operating relay having a pair of windings one of which is connected in series between said vibrating relay and said output electrode and the other of which is connected between said contact and the negative terminal of said source, a condenser connected across said armature and said contact, and another condenser shunted across said' other winding of said operating relay.

8. In combination, a gaseous discharge device having a cathode, an input electrode and an anode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit coupled to said cathode and said anodeand including a source of potential, an operating relay having a pair of windings one of which is in series between said anode and said source, a vibrating relay in series between said one winding and said anode, said vibrating relay having an armature connected to said anode and having a contact adapted to be engaged by said armature in response to the flow of current in said output circuit, the other winding of said operating relay being connected at one end to the negative terminal of said source and at the other end to said contact, a condenser shunted across said contact and armature, and another condenser shunted across said other winding of said operating relay.

9. In combination, a gaseous discharge device having a cathode, an input electrode and an output electrode, an input circuit coupled to said cathode and said input electrode, an output circuit connected between said cathode and said output electrode including a source of potential, a vibrating relay having a winding in series with said source, said cathode and said output electrode, and an operating relay having a pair of windings one of which is in series with the wind ing of said vibrating relay, said vibrating relay having a contact adapted to be closed when said device ionizes whereby the other winding of said operating relay is connected in series with said source and said one winding, a condenser in shunt with said contact, and another condenser in shunt with said other winding.

LELAND K. SWART. 

